National song and dance, armenian tasty food and open calss of carpet weaving: “Armenian Evening” took place at Aeon..

Armenian tasty food, national song and dance, open class of carpet weaving, presentation of national costumes and photo session, exhibition of handmade items and books as well as old but gold games. Yes, yes, you guessed right: “Armenian evening” took place at AEON.

That day AEON became a unique national center, and all these happened because of our dear Luse, who told us that organizing an “Armenian Evening” became a yearly event at AEON.

-The idea came to our mind because of the big desire to dance qochari. Also, one of the girls said that she would be very happy to wear national clothes and the other joked that will weave a carpet with great pleasure. We only had to unite and decide on the date. We called our close friends, shared our idea with them and understood that there was a real need to recall our national traditions. We made a program during which our guests had the opportunity to wear traditional clothes and make photos as well as we had hospitality of the best Armenian tea and cuisine, exhibition-sale of handmade items, carpet weaving workshop, a live concert of national songs and of course, presentation/open class of national songs. Our guests came from different parts of the world, but mostly there were Armenians that live abroad, who promised to return with high pleasure and enthusiasm.

Who gathered at AEON and what they were doing, know only those who were present. Those who couldn’t take part in it, of course, missed a great deal. But we decided to make photos for them and also speak with participants. We suggest you read and watch the details below.

***

Anushik Harutyunyan was presenting Teryan Cultural Center.

-How did you decide to take part in “Armenian evening”?

-AEON is my personal old friend and its founders are my close friends, whom I love very much. Besides, when I started to work at Teryan Cultural Center, I understood that our center had been old friends with AEON as well. This event is one of the regular Armenian evenings, which differs from other similar evenings. Every time AEON creates something that differs from all others. This time we presented clothing for men and women as well as handmade items in order to inform people about our center.

- What regional clothes did you present?

Both costumes are stylized. Women’s clothing is in green and red colors that are typical to Artsakh. Its outerwear is illustrated. In Artsakh, embroidery and painting on garments are not accepted, but this is a stylized version of our center. The ornament on the garment is the ornament of one of the sculptures of Gandzasar church. We have also printed Vaspurakan's ornaments on men's clothing. We have prepared the shawl with the embroidery technique of Marash.

-It is noticeable that during the recent years, interest in national culture has grown even more. Armenian songs are being renewed and presented with new sound as well as designers use ornaments and make various accessories with Armenian motifs...

-Approximately 10-15 years ago, when the director of our center just started to research national clothing, all modern designers were criticizing her. But when they grew and saw that international culture is based on folk, they understood that it was the fashionable. They started to use national elements, which is very good. It doesn’t matter who started everything, the important thing is that everybody eventually came to the same idea. It’s just very important to do it with taste. The same is in music. It is not acceptable to take the national song, change its philosophy and make it completely a different thing. Imagine that song is a gift that is very old but also very valuable. It needs to be delivered, but the box is old-fashioned. In that case you just need to order a new box. It is the same also for delivering old songs. The song is a gift, and the box is its modern version. It is necessary not to touch the essence of the song and deliver it in a polite manner as well as to consult with experts and to read a lot. It will avoid tastelessness, ignorance, and dissemination of bad products under the name of national culture.

-It has been more than a year that I started to weave carpets. It interests me a lot, especially the colors and Armenian patterns.

-And, what is your profession?

- I am a product quality expert. Carpet weaving is a hobby. Perhaps one day I will start to do it in more serious manner.

- What do you like the most in carpet weaving?

-Working with colors is very inspiring for me. Weaving a carpet is a very relaxing process. Besides, it’s pleasurable to create something that is connected with your thoughts and thinking.

-How many hours a day do you devote to carpet weaving?

Carpet weaving is my way of living. In time, it becomes a lifestyle. When you are thirsty, you have to drink water, the same is true in this case. When you want to work, you have to work.

-Did you “infect” others with your love of carpet weaving?

-Yes, it happened a lot. I know friends who were asking “why do you need it?” and now, they also do it with great pleasure.

***

Amateur group members of "Karin" were teaching to dance national dances. Janna Bakhshadyan said that there is a big interest in national dances: “In 2013, when I just started dancing, interested people were much fewer. Year after year, love for national dances grows. It is very good, because our main goal is to return national songs and dances to people so that they will be able to become the owners and holders of our national culture. If you hold it, you can also share it”.

National song and dance, armenian tasty food and open calss of carpet weaving: “Armenian Evening” took place at Aeon..

Armenian tasty food, national song and dance, open class of carpet weaving, presentation of national costumes and photo session, exhibition of handmade items and books as well as old but gold games. Yes, yes, you guessed right: “Armenian evening” took place at AEON.

That day AEON became a unique national center, and all these happened because of our dear Luse, who told us that organizing an “Armenian Evening” became a yearly event at AEON.

-The idea came to our mind because of the big desire to dance qochari. Also, one of the girls said that she would be very happy to wear national clothes and the other joked that will weave a carpet with great pleasure. We only had to unite and decide on the date. We called our close friends, shared our idea with them and understood that there was a real need to recall our national traditions. We made a program during which our guests had the opportunity to wear traditional clothes and make photos as well as we had hospitality of the best Armenian tea and cuisine, exhibition-sale of handmade items, carpet weaving workshop, a live concert of national songs and of course, presentation/open class of national songs. Our guests came from different parts of the world, but mostly there were Armenians that live abroad, who promised to return with high pleasure and enthusiasm.

Who gathered at AEON and what they were doing, know only those who were present. Those who couldn’t take part in it, of course, missed a great deal. But we decided to make photos for them and also speak with participants. We suggest you read and watch the details below.

***

Anushik Harutyunyan was presenting Teryan Cultural Center.

-How did you decide to take part in “Armenian evening”?

-AEON is my personal old friend and its founders are my close friends, whom I love very much. Besides, when I started to work at Teryan Cultural Center, I understood that our center had been old friends with AEON as well. This event is one of the regular Armenian evenings, which differs from other similar evenings. Every time AEON creates something that differs from all others. This time we presented clothing for men and women as well as handmade items in order to inform people about our center.

- What regional clothes did you present?

Both costumes are stylized. Women’s clothing is in green and red colors that are typical to Artsakh. Its outerwear is illustrated. In Artsakh, embroidery and painting on garments are not accepted, but this is a stylized version of our center. The ornament on the garment is the ornament of one of the sculptures of Gandzasar church. We have also printed Vaspurakan's ornaments on men's clothing. We have prepared the shawl with the embroidery technique of Marash.

-It is noticeable that during the recent years, interest in national culture has grown even more. Armenian songs are being renewed and presented with new sound as well as designers use ornaments and make various accessories with Armenian motifs...

-Approximately 10-15 years ago, when the director of our center just started to research national clothing, all modern designers were criticizing her. But when they grew and saw that international culture is based on folk, they understood that it was the fashionable. They started to use national elements, which is very good. It doesn’t matter who started everything, the important thing is that everybody eventually came to the same idea. It’s just very important to do it with taste. The same is in music. It is not acceptable to take the national song, change its philosophy and make it completely a different thing. Imagine that song is a gift that is very old but also very valuable. It needs to be delivered, but the box is old-fashioned. In that case you just need to order a new box. It is the same also for delivering old songs. The song is a gift, and the box is its modern version. It is necessary not to touch the essence of the song and deliver it in a polite manner as well as to consult with experts and to read a lot. It will avoid tastelessness, ignorance, and dissemination of bad products under the name of national culture.

-It has been more than a year that I started to weave carpets. It interests me a lot, especially the colors and Armenian patterns.

-And, what is your profession?

- I am a product quality expert. Carpet weaving is a hobby. Perhaps one day I will start to do it in more serious manner.

- What do you like the most in carpet weaving?

-Working with colors is very inspiring for me. Weaving a carpet is a very relaxing process. Besides, it’s pleasurable to create something that is connected with your thoughts and thinking.

-How many hours a day do you devote to carpet weaving?

Carpet weaving is my way of living. In time, it becomes a lifestyle. When you are thirsty, you have to drink water, the same is true in this case. When you want to work, you have to work.

-Did you “infect” others with your love of carpet weaving?

-Yes, it happened a lot. I know friends who were asking “why do you need it?” and now, they also do it with great pleasure.

***

Amateur group members of "Karin" were teaching to dance national dances. Janna Bakhshadyan said that there is a big interest in national dances: “In 2013, when I just started dancing, interested people were much fewer. Year after year, love for national dances grows. It is very good, because our main goal is to return national songs and dances to people so that they will be able to become the owners and holders of our national culture. If you hold it, you can also share it”.